Young American hero caught behaving like, er, young American

posted at 9:05 pm on January 31, 2009 by Allahpundit

Best comment from the Headlines thread comes from JWF, who notes that with Phelps’s massive lung capacity, this could be the most monster bong hit of all time. Did he bogart the whole bowl in one toke?

It was on November 6, weeks after his Beijing triumph, that 23-year-old Phelps surprised students at the University Of South Carolina in Columbia by showing up unannounced at a house party…

The US Olympics Committee, who have pledged to clamp down on drug use, refused to comment, as did USA Swimming and Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman.

More surprising still was the World Anti-Doping Agency’s refusal to comment, given that they introduced the four-year ban on sport’s drug users…

Spokesman Clifford Bloxham offered us an extraordinary deal not to publish our story, saying Phelps would become our columnist for three years, host events and get his sponsors to advertise with us.

In return, he asked that we kill Phelps’ bong picture. Bloxham said: “It’s seeing if something potentially very negative for Michael could turn into something very positive for the News of the World.”

People are arguing that it’s not really him in the photo, but would the News of the World drop that detail about his spokesman in there if it wasn’t true? Remember, libel laws in the UK are much looser than they are here. Exit question: Given the fact the IOC’s never had a big problem with cheating and that Phelps’s absence from the 2012 Games would mean tens of millions of dollars in lost ad revenue, what are the odds that they’ll revisit the rules about a four-year ban for dope before then?

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Funny, those I know most against marijuana, alcohol and tobbaco are all very liberal and I live in California. All they care about is controlling other people’s lives. Yes I am a conservative with a very strong libertarian streak.

I know, but I am saying it is equally absurd. In my scenario, clearly the Carter loving conservative was deeply confused on the meaning of “conservative.” Just as your socialist libertarians seem to be confused about the whole libertarian philosophy.

I know, but I am saying it is equally absurd. In my scenario, clearly the Carter loving conservative was deeply confused on the meaning of “conservative.” Just as your socialist libertarians seem to be confused about the whole libertarian philosophy.

justfinethanks on February 1, 2009 at 12:49 AM

Well, I don’t think it is…but this has been an interesting exchange…look, I don’t hate folks who think it’s ok…if you are for pot legalization….fine. I was just explaining my experiences with the pot lovers I know. Maybe it was unfair…pot may be getting a bad wrap because of it’s association with hippies who don’t think straight and embrace a really lefty point of view…like the ones I’ve been in contact with…and I didn’t make a single thing up I related here…all true.

Don’t accuse those against legalization of drugs, and then generalize that they are against all of that too…you just disqualified yourself from pointing any fingers there.

AUINSC on February 1, 2009 at 12:57 AM

The general argument against marijuana is the perceived effects on children and society as a whole. This is the same argument applied to guns, video games, fast food, etc. It’s not a generalization when you all use the same words. If you consider an argument valid for having something be illegal, then you’re going to have quite a difficult time arguing against it when it is applied to the proposed outlawing of other things, especially when that argument is based on perceived damage, and not historical evidence.

The general argument against marijuana is the perceived effects on children and society as a whole. This is the same argument applied to guns, video games, fast food, etc. It’s not a generalization when you all use the same words. If you consider an argument valid for having something be illegal, then you’re going to have quite a difficult time arguing against it when it is applied to the proposed outlawing of other things, especially when that argument is based on perceived damage, and not historical evidence.

MadisonConservative on February 1, 2009 at 1:09 AM

Oh, I see your point…it’s the slippery slope argument. Outlaw anything and you might as well outlaw everything. First you say pot is illegal…then you say it’s illegal to smoke pot while trying to land a plane on an aircraft carrier…where will it end? I think it’s a fair question…but are there any limits?…I just find the pro-pot arguments a bit shrill…as if it’s the only true metric of freedom that exists. Every pro-pot argument is always framed in terms of “if pot isn’t legal..can freedom exist at all?” It’s ridiculous. It’s been illegal for a long time in the US…are we slaves because it’s not?

Every pro-pot argument is always framed in terms of “if pot isn’t legal..can freedom exist at all?” It’s ridiculous. It’s been illegal for a long time in the US…are we slaves because it’s not?

AUINSC on February 1, 2009 at 1:18 AM

There are countless non violent drug offenders behind bars. Do they count?

Anti pot people always drift away from talking about pot itself and say “Well, if pot is made legal what’s to prevent me from mowing down small children in my car while high on pot.” It’s nonsense because it starts talking about a victimless crime and desperately try to connect it with an actual crime. Obviously, you shouldn’t be allowed to put people in harm, just as you shouldn’t be drunk while flying a plane. Light regulation works better than prohibition EVERY TIME.

Anti pot people always drift away from talking about pot itself and say “Well, if pot is made legal what’s to prevent me from mowing down small children in my car while high on pot.”

Light regulation works better than prohibition EVERY TIME.

Maybe…and I will acknowledge that you made good points in the second paragraph as well. It’s the best argument you can make about pot legalization actually. I don’t agree with legalization, but I will concede that.

Then you must be oh 20 years old or so. I know lots of people that smoke pot and none are hippies or liberal by any means and none of them voted for Obama. They are all acccomplished professionals that like to relax and kick back every once and a while.

Non violent non drug crimes are usually white collar crimes or theft. Those crimes usually involve hurting another person, they have a victim. So this is the real non issue.

justfinethanks on February 1, 2009 at 1:39 AM

Not really…pot is still illegal..it generally involves breaking the law and dealing with criminals who are hurting others…you can frame that argument any way you like, but buying pot supports people who are generally hurting other people to get ahead…you can say that if it were legal, it wouldn’t matter…but you could say the same thing about tax evasion too…

Then you must be oh 20 years old or so. I know lots of people that smoke pot and none are hippies or liberal by any means and none of them voted for Obama. They are all acccomplished professionals that like to relax and kick back every once and a while.

goat on February 1, 2009 at 1:34 AM

Seriously? Where do you live…I need to get to know a better class of pot smokers…

Oh, I see your point…it’s the slippery slope argument. Outlaw anything and you might as well outlaw everything. First you say pot is illegal…then you say it’s illegal to smoke pot while trying to land a plane on an aircraft carrier…where will it end? I think it’s a fair question…but are there any limits?…I just find the pro-pot arguments a bit shrill…as if it’s the only true metric of freedom that exists. Every pro-pot argument is always framed in terms of “if pot isn’t legal..can freedom exist at all?” It’s ridiculous. It’s been illegal for a long time in the US…are we slaves because it’s not?

AUINSC on February 1, 2009 at 1:18 AM

It’s not slippery slope when actual movements exist that are trying to regulate or outlaw cigarettes, video games, fast food, et al. New York has been banning tons of things for many of the exact same reasons that are used in the argument against marijuana, from MSG to trans-saturated fats. Wisconsin is trying to ban smoking throughout the state, and tried to ban plastic bags and plastic water bottles. An argument is only slippery slope when you’re predicting similar events will occur, not when they actually are occurring.

By the way, it’s already illegal to smoke pot while operating a vehicle. It’s driving under the influence, or while intoxicated…not while drunk. If a cop pulls you over for weaving and you’re doped up on over-the-counter medication, he can cite you just as easily. Legalizing marijuana would no more make driving while high legal then the legalized status of alcohol makes driving drunk legal.

No, pot is not the only true metric of freedom. It’s not even the pot that is the metric. It’s the reasoning behind its outlawing, same for anything else. It’s trading liberty for “safety”, or more accurately, “for the children. As I’ve said many times, “It’s for the children” are the four most dangerous words in this land. The Assault Weapons Ban, which refuses to stay dead, was shrouded in these words. Smoking bans around the country were shrouded in these words. Forced ratings of video games and labeling of “offensive” music was shrouded in these words. Nearly all of these movements, by the way, were headed by liberals like Tipper Gore and Hillary Clinton, although sadly the AWB was a bipartisan effort. Strangely enough, my own senator, Russ Feingold, was one of the two dems to vote against it. Liberal nut though he is, I can never forget that.

What the Founding Fathers wanted was limited government, period. They wanted to live their lives with the government serving only necessary functions, and if they acted up, they suggested revolting all over again. Government is too big by far, and giving them more power over people’s lives, even though the ways may seem trivial individually, is dangerous. Maybe pot is bad. Maybe cigarettes are bad. Maybe alcohol is bad. Maybe fast food is bad. Maybe video games are bad.

However, the government should not be making our choices about these things for us. No conservative would support that.

Not really…pot is still illegal..it generally involves breaking the law and dealing with criminals who are hurting others…

The only reason you deal with criminals is because it is unjustly illegal. It’s an immoral law. If you lift the law, instead of shady people getting the money we will create jobs in manufacuring, farming, marketing, and retail. Plus take advantage of a tax glut, which we can then use to cut income taxes and improve the economy even more.

but you could say the same thing about tax evasion too…

Cheating on your taxes is another one of those things that everyone does but no one cares. Legalize it and you can cut taxes. Kill two birds with one stone.

Might I point out, that even if you think pot shouldn’t be illegal, that doesn’t mean you can’t also oppose the use of marijuana through means such as public shaming and embarrassment- or even ostracism (ie banning) of offenders from a freely organized association.

Which as far as I can tell is the only thing at issue here, were criminal charges threatened against Phelps? I’d didn’t see anything about that.

As for the contention that pot smoking isn’t harmful, all I have to say is that a disproportionate number of pot smokers are losers. While it is true that not all pot users are losers, a disproportionate of them are, and more over I have seen successful people begin using pot and immediately following from that choice, destroy their lives. (All this without any government action destroying their lives either).

I don’t need anything more than that to rationally label pot as harmful, dangerous, and a bad thing for people to use. (Illegality is another issue- as we should not make everything that is bad illegal).

So what, marijuana should be decriminalized even legalized. I’ve known drunks, potheads and those addicted to prescription drugs and among them potheads are the most harmless. Legalize it and tax it like alcohol or tobacco.

Amen. Add a 25% federal tax on marijuana and our government would have all the money it would ever need.

Next headline: capitalist companies, speedo and frosted flakes, terminate contracts with young American…

He earned his achievements through his work ethic as applied to his physical gifts; the medals and records he set are his, as is his right to continue to compete.

The $$ he is getting from endorsements comes from the consumers of speedo and frosted flakes… the majority of whom are most likely parents. He will lose his endorsement $ and I will use this as a cautionary tale for my kids.

There are more than 20 million Americans who enjoy cannabis daily. This is a huge voting block, bigger than the Evangelical block. Whenever I read things against Cannabis on this site, it’s always attached to hippies living in Nazi Pelosi’s district. The reality is there are probably more conservatives who are doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs who smoke. They aren’t as stupid as the hippies in getting caught. As a Libertarian, this is one more area where conservatives try to insert government policy over individuals’ rights. That is as bad as the left’s social engineering………….

As far as legalizing and taxing, screw that. Conservatives are always saying(rightly) that anytime the government gets involved it is a total failure. Would be the same with drugs. They would add chemical preservatives to it as with cigarettes and the money taken in the form of taxes would only add to government corruption. Just let people grow their own at home, and leave the government out of peoples’ lives. Must we really tax EVERYTHING???????????????

Now all these potheads are going to believe they can will fourteen gold medals too. But the curious thing is what relationship if any did Phelps have to South Carolina? I mean, how would he even know where to go to crash a party?
It just doesn’t seem kosher to me.

Hitting a bong isn’t a big deal. Most people I know below the age of 50 have at least tried it at least once in their lives (and, of course, there’s nothing wrong with people who haven’t tried it).

I do question his judgment in letting someone take his picture, considering how many eyes are on him. Even if the picture was taken without permission, he should have tried to be very discreet, considering his celebrity status and the companies that invested money in him and his image.

My guess is that I’ve pulled more tubes in my day than Phelps has so far, and I’ve got far less to lose. Even still, no one is going to produce such a picture of me…

If past pot smoking isn’t a disqualification for running for national office, then it shouldn’t disqualify Phelps from competing in 2012–unless someone determines that it is a performance enhancing drug.

However, people are now denying him his due because of one of his personal habits.

MadisonConservative on January 31, 2009 at 10:31 PM

Yes, but that’s to be expected. The advertisers were trying to sell an image. Someone who is caught smoking pot, on camera no less, would go against that. The same would be true if he was out drinking every night, even without a DUI. His advertisers wouldn’t sign Britney either.

That said, the man’s still a hero, and it’s bs for people to act as though this changes what he accomplished. Yes, he was stupid for getting caught, but he’s still an Olympic all-star who broke serious records and gave the US a ton of wins this last year.

People make mistakes, often big ones if they live long enough. Just thinking back to some of the people we’ve had as heroes, such as the man who said, “let’s roll” that horrible day. Would he loss his status if it came out that he used to smoke every now and then before he boarded that flight? Would that news somehow change that he did that day? Or Smeaton, what if he was caught with a bong? Would his actions in defending the airport suddenly mean something less?

Breaking the law does and you think it is ok to pick and choose. Sad….

Wade on February 1, 2009 at 1:01 PM

In most states, smoking is nothing but a misdemeanor, which would rank it with a serious traffic violation. Don’t pretend like you’re not picking and choosing. You are.

Ah, the drug legalization advocates have taken over the thread. I’m not surprised.

Phelps has now admitted that it’s him in the photo, and he’s saying he made a mistake.

So, I guess he disagrees with all of you who believe that breaking the law and jeopardizing your career is nothing more than an excusable, youthful indiscretion.

I am disappointed in him because of this behavior, and a lot of other people will be as well. It was a stupid thing for him to do, and may he reap the consequences of it so he might learn something from it.

And may those of you excusing his behavior learn something too, but I doubt that will happen.

In most states, smoking is nothing but a misdemeanor, which would rank it with a serious traffic violation. Don’t pretend like you’re not picking and choosing. You are.

Esthier on February 1, 2009 at 1:25 PM

Depends on how much of a stash you happen to be in possession of, in most states, but if you really want to equate this a, “serious traffic violation,” you might want to rethink it, as a serious traffic violation can result in someone’s death.

Let us further not pretend that it is any more destructive than mind altering substances that you can currently get legally. And also observe that the destructiveness of a mind altering substance is a moot point when discussing whether or not I have the right to put said substance inside my body. It makes about as much sense to ban bacon because it is “harmful to your health.”

Depends on how much of a stash you happen to be in possession of, in most states, but if you really want to equate this a, “serious traffic violation,” you might want to rethink it, as a serious traffic violation can result in someone’s death.

JannyMae on February 1, 2009 at 1:47 PM

I was referring just to smoking, not being in possession of pot (anymore than what’s currently being smoked). But even possession itself doesn’t necessarily mean a crime worse than a traffic violation.

And yes, some traffic violations can result in death, but we don’t generally throw stones at people who speed or neglect to use their blinker when necessary. If you’ve ever had a ticket, then you’ve broken the law just the same.

There goes Michael’s endorsements. I hope he gave his mom a couple mil to set aside.
Cutting lose is to be expected considering he spent 10 hours a day 7 days a week for 10 years in a pool.
He wants to live a little, to fit in with his perceived peers. Remember he did not share the college experience due to the demands of swimming.

As strange as it sounds I think he is trying to fit in. Trying too hard to impress that tatooed beauty he is enamored with.
He is a smart enough guy so I believe him when he says it won’t happen again.

Since all the pot heads and other self-medicators on Hot Air will continue to pursue their faves regardless of the law, why bother? It takes effort to change laws on the books and I won’t even get into the unintended consequences. It won’t change my life. I’ve tried illicit drugs in the past. Now, I’m happy with the occasional beer, the endorphins my wife and I generate together and the adrenaline rush I experience when I dive out the door of a Cessna or twin Otter. Nothing else compares.

that is really a pathetic justification. pot use is illegal. you can’t kick back and relax without having hallucinations?

I must have smoked nothing but lame dope in my heyday, because I never had a hallucination. Or, maybe you’re just terribly misinformed…

pot is for aged hippies and loser college kids who don’t know better.

This is what happens when you blast people you’ve never met for doing something you have no clue about…you come off sounding like a dolt.

Even Nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman admitted to smoking dope. I don’t know many “aged hippies” or “loser college kids” who helped create the atomic bomb, do you? I could sit here all day and pelt you with examples of people smarter and more accomplished than you who have smoked dope, but my guess is you’d rather remain willfully ignorant.

I love all the delusional weak-minded idiots who smoke dope. Thanks to a generation of hippy parents and teachers who think smoking pot is ok and has no adverse health effects, they have spread this propaganda on to the next generation. The scientific facts against Pot are overwhelming:

That fact is every loser I’ve met that smokes or has smoked dope exhibits forms of paranoia or other mental disorders. Nothing is funnier then listening to these brain dead morons try to justify their weak-minded behavior.

Sociological:
African-American Girls Who Use Marijuana Engage In Riskier Sex, Have Higher STD Rate (School of Public Health, Emory University)
Cannabis Almost Doubles Risk Of Fatal Crashes (British Medical Journal)
Early Exposure To Drugs, Alcohol Creates Lifetime Of Health Risk (Psychological Science Journal)
Emotional Intelligence And The Use Of Tobacco And Cannabis (UAB Department of General, Development and Educational Psychology)
Frequent Family Meals Might Reduce Teen Substance Use (Journal of Adolescent Health)
Glamorization Of Drugs In Rap Music Jumped Dramatically Over 2 Decades (Addiction Research & Theory Journal)
Malt Liquor Linked To Marijuana Use Among Young Adults (Psychology of Addictive Behaviors Journal)
One Of Every Three Popular Songs Contains References To Substance Use (American Public Health Association)
Pop Stars More Than Twice As Likely To Die An Early Death (British Medical Journal)
References To Explicit Substance Use Common In Popular Music (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine Journal)
Religiosity Curbs Teen Marijuana Use By Half (Journal of Drug Issues)
Researchers Find Factors That Encourage Cannabis Use Among University Students (Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research)
Rising Teen Marijuana Use Is Fueled By Change In Attitudes (American Journal of Public Health)
United States Has Highest Level Of Illegal Cocaine And Cannabis Use (PLoS Medicine Journal)